Final answer:
Prohibition reduced health problems related to alcohol abuse, but it also led to an increase in criminal activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prohibition, the ban on the manufacture and consumption of alcoholic beverages, did reduce some health problems related to alcohol abuse. It aimed to address issues such as poverty, street crime, worker absenteeism, workplace accidents, and domestic violence associated with excessive alcohol consumption. However, along with reducing health problems, Prohibition also contributed to the rise in criminal activities. The ban on alcohol led to the emergence of organized crime syndicates, such as the bootlegging gangs that smuggled and sold illegal alcohol, especially in major cities like Chicago.